The new KEEN Uneek sandal is here.

The new KEEN Uneeks are here, and we’ve had no shortage of questions about ‘em. You know, questions like” Are they comfortable on your feet?” and “Is it a water shoe or more of a casual sandal?” and “Is this an April Fool’s joke?”

These shoes are actually surprisingly comfortable. The paracord feels a little stiff at first, but staffers who’ve been wearing these tell me it softens up quickly.

While I expected no support at all, it’s actually pretty supportive unless you have a really high arch. That distinctive cord upper holds the sole close to your foot, which meant my foot doesn’t slide around inside the shoe.

The outsole is similar to what you’d expect from a Newport or similar KEEN water sandal, with a mostly-flat tread pattern and razor siping to maximize grip on wet rock, boat decks and boardwalks. I can see these being awesome beachside or for casual wear, but not for hiking.